Okay, I guess this chapter got lucky. It started out 664 words long. I wrote an author's note apologizing for the shortness, and this and that.

Well, I guess that wasn't what God had planned for me.

I went to save it, without really proofreading or anything, and I lost it... Only 339 words were there.

So yes, I was pissed. Then, the second time, I went through and actually READ what I had written... and was shaking my head, saying "No, no no!"... So I wrote some, and wrote some more... and it's now 1280ish words long...

There's only one more chapter after this!! I'm both happy and sad at the same time...

Anyway, enough rambling. Here we go...

"Shit!" screamed Martinez. He jumped to me, but I rolled over the bed and into the corner.

"Get away!" I screamed.

"Put your hands in the air," said a cool voice from the doorway.

No fucking way.

Could that be-

"Tony, a pleasure to see you!" exclaimed Martinez, pulling away from me immediately. He eyed the gun that had fallen beside Eric. Tony caught the movement and drug the gun behind him.

"Cut the shit," he said, his voice unwavering. His tone reminded me why I had nicknamed him Darth Vader. He He stared calmly at Martinez, his gun now trained on HIS forehead.

Funny how things turn around.

"Now, Tony-boy, you wouldn-"

Tony fired a warning shot above his head.

Damn! Did Martinez WANT to get killed? Nobody in their right mind would taunt an armed Manoso..

'Cept me.

Both Martinez and I jumped again.

"I don't play games," Tony said, his voice hard.

Martinez shot a look at me filled with anger, but I could see that he knew that he was screwed.

"Bitch," he growled, narrowing his eyes at me. "This isn't over."

He slowly raised his arms over his head, glaring at me all the while.

"Turn around."

Tony sounded even more pissed than before, but his face was still expressionless.

I wondered vaguelly if Tony had ever been in law enforcement.

Well, duh, his brother is Ranger. Of course he seemed like a natural.

Martinez turned, his head still facing me. He shot me a 'drop-dead' look that made me cringe.

Tony approached him, gun still pointed at the back of his head.

"I believe you're wrong," he said. "This IS over."

Martinez fell. Tony clipped his stun-gun back onto his belt, then turned to look at me.

I was frozen. We stared at each other for minutes until he cleared his throat.

That broke my silence.

"Ohmigod," I rushed, crumbling to the floor where I was.

I was a mess. I was crying, the snotty kind.

Well hell, you would be too, if all this had happened to you!

I put my head in my hands and sobbed... over everything. I was sleep deprived, PMS'ing, and had almost been KILLED, only to be saved by Darth Vader...

I felt arms embrace me and I stiffened.

Tony knew how to hug?

Sure enough, he had walked around my bed and was squatting down beside me, his arms around me.

I think what little I had left, I lost it.

I buried my head in Tony's shoulder and bawled.

He awkwardly pat my back, looking unsure.

"It's over," he muttered into my ear.

"Bu-bu-but... Martinez is still alive!" I gasped out, crying harder as snot landed on Tony's shoulder. Either he didn't notice or was wise enough not to say anything, because he didn't mention it. "What if he gets so-so-someone else? Another ally? Tia is still in da-da-danger! He sa-said it's not ov-over!"

His hand froze, and he pulled back. He looked at Martinez, then at me, then embraced me again. "We'll take care of him."

My crying slowed down as my mind went into overdrive. There could be plenty of meanings to that statement. One in particular popped into my head... death.

I knew Ranger had killed for me before... I had no doubt that he would kill for his little sister.

"I'm okay," I mumbled, pulling away slightly.

It wasn't that I would particularly feel bad if Martinez died... I just didn't want his death to be because of me.

Okay, so I have a conscience. And it's been popping up more and more these past couple days. I'd cried more this week than in the past few months combined.

"Stephanie!" I heard a yell.

Ranger.

And he sounded... was that panic?

"In here," called Tony.

I heard rapid footsteps to the bedroom, then Ranger appeared in the door. He looked from his brother's body, lying in the entranceway, to Martinez's stunned and cuffed self, to Tony and me, huddled in the corner.

He swore softly and carefully stepped over Eric's body to us.

I could only imagine what the scene looked like to an outsider... my lip was bleeding and my eye was blackened, not to mention I was still bruised from my last encounter with the duo.

I looked at Tony. He didn't look so bad, but he had circles under his eyes. He looked down at me, as if using that ESP thing that the Justice League tends to use, then stood.

He leaned down and took my arm, helping me stand. As soon as I was on my feet, I rushed to Ranger. I began babbling about what had happened, but I knew he couldn't understand me. From one set of arms to another, I clung to him like he was my only lifeline. I was shaking, my hair was a mess... and still his arms circled me.

"andheshothimandfellan-"

"Steph," Ranger whispered into my ear.

"Ineverknew, Ithoughtyou'dbe-"

"Steph," he said louder, snapping me to attention.

I pulled up. "You're going to be okay."

"But Martine-"

He took my hands and squeezed them.

"Stephanie," he said softly, "Calm down."

I began to breathe. In and out.

Friggen' A.

He led me through my apartment and to my couch. "Just sit here a second. I need to talk to Tony."

Tony. I had forgotten about him. Sure enough, I turned my head to see him dragging the stunned Martinez with him. I guess he had left Eric's body in my bedroom.

Holy shit.

I have a body in my bedroom.

I began to shiver again, my breathing getting rapid.

I have an effing BODY in my bedroom!

Ranger's brother's body, at that...

"She's not in any condition to drive," he said to his brother. They took a look at me. I'm sure I looked crazy... I was rocking back and forth.

A Manoso's body was in my room.

"No shit," he replied, cocking an eyebrow at me. "What about her mother?"

Oh shit.

Not my mother.

Anything but my mother.

If she finds out what happened...

she'll lock me in a closet for life!

"No," Ranger mused, "Her mother would only make her worse."

Thank you, Batman...

"-and I don't think being around the guys would be good either," Tony said lower, staring at me.

Probably not. They all mean good... but they effing scare me.

"What about Mom's?" Tony muttered.

Ranger gave him a look, then turned his gaze to me.

Oh God... his grandmother scares the hell out of me...

"That would work."

This time, my head shot up. He was willingly taking me to his mother's?

Tony and Ranger made their way over to me.

"You okay with that, Babe?"

Not really... but I guess it's better than staying here.

"Okay," I agreed.

What else was there to do?

He shot Tony a look. Tony nodded. He crossed the room, pet me awkwardly on the shoulder. "You're not so bad, but I still think you're shit stupid."

"I still think you're an ass," I said, not meaning the words at all.

The kid had just saved my life. For the second time.

"Thanks for all that. Saving my life again and all."

He grinned at me. "Anytime, Babe."

I glared weakly. "You really ARE an ass."

His grin grew wider. "Why do I have a feeling we've already had this conversation?"

Ranger coughed inconspiciously, causing our bicker to stop immediately. The grin wiped from Tony's face as quickly as it had appeared. "I'll get started," he said to Ranger. He gave my shoulder a squeeze one last time, then left.

For once, my curiousity didn't want to know what he was getting started on.

I just wanted to sleep.

RevieWwWWwwwWW Please )

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